Elders in the country, have again, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the nation’s service chiefs and appoint new ones, saying the worsening insecurity in Nigeria informed their call.



Noting that the security heads were not indispensable, the elders regretted that their inability to tackle the problem had portrayed the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government in bad light.

Speaking under the aegis of Conference of Concerned Nigeria Elders in a statement, the complainants charged the President to identify with Nigerians and give vent to resolutions of the National Assembly asking on disengagement of the service chiefs for efficient security management in the country.
Their position was contained in the document signed by Prof. Tunde Banjo for South West, Dr. Achike Nwachukwu for South East, Jackson Spiff for South South, Alhaji Baba Usman Funtua (North West), Prof. Shehu Bulama (North East) and Dr. Isaiah Terhila for North Central.

Deploring Buhari’s rigidity, the elders insisted that it was time for the Nigerian leader to save life and property.

Describing the President’s seeming inaction as very disturbing, the senior citizens submitted that the issue of security of life and property was “deteriorating on an hourly basis.”
They went on: “We find President Muhammadu Buhari’s inaction over the sack of the service chiefs and other recommendations on security very disturbing and abnormal, hence we passionately appeal to him to have a rethink and save the country from further loss of life and property.

“We issue this statement to state our position on a pertinent national issue that has become embarrassing to our dear country and which has put us to shame even among our immediate brothers in West Africa.

“It is the issue of security of life and property which is deteriorating daily, and which Mr. President has deliberately refused to act according to the demands of Nigerians.

“We wish to categorically say that it is not normal for a whole country to be speaking with one voice that the service chiefs should not only be sacked, but also that the entire security architecture be rejigged, and Mr. President would remain adamant and less concerned.”

According to the elders, Nigerians are tired of the alarming insecurity in the country and the seeming inaction of the President to address the situation.

Fearing that Nigerians might resort to self-help if nothing was done urgently, the prominent citizens maintained: “Those responsible for actions or inactions, which have heightened the insecurity, must go and new and effective hands injected into the system.”